ITALY: Adverse weather conditions delay Concordia salvage operations, as more snow expected across the country

Record ID: 333223

  • Title: ITALY: Adverse weather conditions delay Concordia salvage operations, as more snow expected across the country
  • Date: 11th February 2012
  • Summary: GIGLIO, ITALY (FEBRUARY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CAPSIZED COSTA CONCORDIA IN ROUGH WATERS ICY RAIN FALLING ON PALM TREES ROUGH SEAS NEAR PORT SEA GULL IN ICY RAIN VARIOUS OF VESSELS AT PORT VARIOUS OF RESCUE WORKERS AT PORT ROUGH SEAS NEAR PORT VARIOUS OF CAPSIZED COSTA CONCORDIA IN ROUGH WATERS
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVAA0AKZSGPUF19TBV260Z129TWS
  • Story Text: Italy braced for another weekend of heavy snow and plunging temperatures on Friday (February 10).
    Rare snow blanketed the capital Rome last weekend, and heavy snowfall has continued throughout the week particularly in the north central and north eastern parts of the country.
    On the island of Giglio, salvage and rescue operations came to a halt again on Friday as strong winds and rough seas battered the wrecked Costa Concordia.
    High waves could be seen crashing on the stricken cruise liner and nearby rocks.
    Thick snow blanketed some parts of the Emilia Romagna region, and some buildings roofs collapsed under the heavy weight of the snow.
    Rescuers and firefighters were dispatched to deal with the damages.
    More snow was predicted to fall in Rome late on Friday and Saturday (February 11) morning. Authorities ordered schools and public offices to close all day Friday and Saturday.
    Travel on the city's famed scooters and motorbikes was prohibited and chains on car tyres obligatory in the Lazio region where the capital is located.
    Italy's interior ministry advised against all non-essential travel, with disruptions on the roads and limited services across the country.
    Meteorologists issued an adverse weather warning for the next 24-36 hours, with snowfall expected in many parts of the country over Friday and Saturday.
    Some 1,000 soldiers and 200 vehicles have been deployed in the streets to address problems arising from the bad weather.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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